Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer

Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays to destroy as many cancer cells as possible, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. It is used less often than surgery| or chemotherapy  |in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Why radiotherapy is given Back To Top

Radiotherapy may be given:

• before surgery to try to shrink the cancer and make it easier to remove (neo-adjuvant).
• after surgery to try to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back (adjuvant)
• in combination with chemotherapy to shrink the cancer and keep it under control for as long as possible (known as chemoradiation)
• to help to relieve symptoms such as pain. The radiotherapy can shrink the tumour and so relieve pressure which may be causing pain. The dose of radiotherapy used to relieve symptoms is usually lower so you may have a shorter course of treatment and less chance of side effects.

Both neo-adjuvant and adjuvant radiotherapy for cancer of the pancreas are still experimental treatments. Because of this they aren't widely available and usually would only be offered to you as part of a clinical trial.

Radiotherapy is given in the hospital radiotherapy department. How the treatment is given can vary a lot, depending on your particular needs. Sometimes a single treatment is all that is needed, but usually a course of therapy is given in daily sessions from Monday–Friday, with a rest at the weekends. Each session lasts only a few minutes. The course of treatment may last for a number of weeks. Your doctor will discuss your treatment with you in detail beforehand.

Planning your treatment Back To Top

To ensure that you receive maximum benefit from your radiotherapy, it has to be carefully planned. This is done using a CT scanner, which takes x-rays of the area to be treated. Treatment planning is a very important part of radiotherapy and it may take a few visits to complete.

Marks may be drawn on your skin to help the radiographer, who gives you your treatment, to position you accurately and to show where the rays are to be directed. These marks must stay visible throughout your treatment, but they can be washed off once it is over. At the beginning of your radiotherapy you will be told how to look after the skin in the area to be treated.

Having treatment Back To Top

Before each session of radiotherapy the radiographer will position you carefully on the couch, either sitting or lying, and make sure that you are comfortable. During your treatment, which only takes a few minutes, you will be left alone in the room, but you will be able to talk to the radiographer, who will be watching you carefully from the next room. Radiotherapy is not painful but you have to be still for a few minutes while your treatment is being given.

Side effects Back To Top

Radiotherapy for cancer of the pancreas can cause side effects such as feeling sick (nausea), vomiting|, diarrhoea| and tiredness|. These side effects can be mild, or more troublesome, depending on how much treatment you are having. Your cancer specialist will be able to advise you what to expect.